Fenugreek to reduce Blood Sugar Levels

 

 What is Fenugreek?

Fenugreek (also known as Greek Hay), is an herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems in Egypt, Greece, Italy, and South Asia.

What are the Benefits of Fenugreek?

Fenugreek has been used to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils), treat sore throat, and cure acid reflux.

Fenugreek also has a long history of use for the treatment of reproductive disorders, to induce labor, to treat hormonal disorders, to help with breast enlargement, and to reduce menstrual pain.

Recent studies have shown that Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. It is also being studied for its cardiovascular benefits.

 

How does it affect diabetes?

Fenugreek seeds (trigonella foenum graecum) are high in soluble fiber, which helps lower blood sugar by slowing down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. This suggests they may be effective in treating people with diabetes.

Of these, several clinical trials showed that fenugreek seeds can improve most metabolic symptoms associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in humans by lowering blood glucose levels and improving glucose tolerance.

In another controlled trial, incorporating 15 grams of powdered fenugreek seed into a meal eaten by people with type 2 diabetes reduced the rise in post-meal blood glucose, while a separate study found that taking 2.5 grams of fenugreek twice a day for three months lowered blood sugar levels in people with mild, but not severe, type 2 diabetes.


How to use Fenugreek?

• ·         Dry roast fenugreek seeds by placing them in a large skillet and heating on medium-high heat for one to two minutes, stirring frequently. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the roasted seeds to any meal.

• ·         Take 2 tablespoons of dried fenugreek leaves or seeds in 1 cup of water and boil for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink the resulting tea twice per day to help lower blood glucose levels.

• ·         Take 10 grams of fenugreek seeds.  Soak them in 250 ml water overnight. Crush them in the morning . Strain the mixture and collect the water. Drink it every day for 2 months.

• ·         Fenugreek seeds are very versatile. They can be eaten as seeds, brewed into a tea, made into flour and baked into bread, or pressed into oil. Eating seeds or using fenugreek flour is the most effective form of fenugreek for blood sugar control. An oral dose of 2-5g of fenugreek seeds can help blood glucose levels for diabetics.

  

Where can I buy it?

Fenugreek leaves (methi) and seeds can be found in most Asian food stores, while herbal supplements containing fenugreek seed powder and/or fenugreek seed extract in capsule form are available through most health food companies.

Caution

Before using fenugreek to treat your diabetes, consult your GP and diabetes healthcare team to ensure it is safe. As with other blood sugar-reducing herbs, there is the risk that fenugreek may cause your blood sugars to go too low (hypoglycemia) when taken alongside prescribed diabetes drugs. As a result, the dose of your anti-diabetic medication might need to be changed.

 

Diabetes Natural Cure

According to the unique assessments of ayurvedic concepts diabetes is the disease which occurs when toxins get accumulated in the tissue and result in circulation blockage. The various root causes of diabetes that ayurveda enlists are poor nutrition and poor digestion, inequity of nervous system, physical and mental stress, and disturbance in natural biological cycle.

The ayurvedic practitioners suggest a variety of natural remedies. Exercise and yoga forms the most effective ayurvedic treatment for diabetes.Ayurveda also prescribes use of certain herbs which can help in curing diabetes. The most important herbs are shilajit, turmeric, neem, amalaki etc.These are considered to be nutritional supplements. They restore balance of those that cause imbalance in your body.

In order to control the functions of liver and pancreas; it is preferable that you take turmeric with aloe Vera, in the early stages of the disease.
Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies for Diabetes

* Intake of bitter gourd or bitter lemon juice daily, in empty stomach.
* Intake of 2 turmeric capsules daily thrice a day.
* Intake of rose apple stones powder twice daily.
* Intake of small amounts of fenugreek, musta, Arjuna,
triphala, ajwan, haritaki mixed with ghee.
* Intake of amlaki powder, haldi powder with honey, twice daily.
* Intake of fenugreek, white pepper and turmeric powder with a glass
of milk, twice daily.
* Intake of a mixture of bay leaf, turmeric and aloe vera gel,
twice daily, before lunch and dinner.

Apart from the above easy and affordable measure there is also another ayurvedic remedy and that is preparation of vasant kusumakar ras.This is quite costly but daily intake of this mixed with honey or cream, checks your blood sugar level.

Following the above medications will definitely lower your blood sugar level. People who depend on insulin will realize that their need for insulin has minimized to a great extent.

The correct diet prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners which would help in reducing your blood sugar level

* It is necessary that you avoid intake of excessive sweets,
carbohydrates and diary products.
* You should eat more fresh vegetables and bitter fruits and herbs.
* You must include fried barley, cornflower, porridge, ghee, in your diet.
* Eat more orange and lemons.
* Eat a lot of green vegetables, black gram, soy, fish etc.

Therefore if you want to keep your diabetes under control then you must eliminate those foods from your diet like rice, wheat, sugarcane etc. and also you should not eat too much fat.
Other Ayurvedic Methods to Reduce Diabetes

* Exercise
* Oil massage
* Use of dry ginger and cardamom while taking bath
* Drinking water which is preserved in a copper vessel overnight.

Essential points to remember related to ayurveda

* You should always use proper spices and oils.
* You should eat herbal preparations to improve your digestion
* You should maintain a difference between your
meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner
* You should follow a balanced and healthy diet.
* You should also follow the non dietary regiments like Yoga,
breathing exercises, and asanas.